Fluorescent lamp holder



Dec. 31, 1963 E. R. KULKA FLUORESCENT LAMP HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1961 nvmvron [age 7e R. /(ulka Dec. 31, 1963 E. R. KULKA FLUORESCENT LAMP HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1961 INVENTOR. [age/1e A. Ku/ka BY A TTOKNZ'YS United States Patent tion of New York Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,118 Claims. (61. 33956) The present invention relates to lamp holders for double ended gaseous discharge lamps of the fluorescent type having electrodes mounted on the end of the tubular glass envelope. The lampholders of this'invention are especially adapted to receive lamps equipped with bases of the type disclosed in the patent to Eugene Lemmers, No. 2,716,739, issued August 30, 1955, and the patent to John M. Pistey, Patent No. 2,742,621, issued April 17, 1956.

High-output, rapid-start fluorescent lamps of a type now in mass production employ the lead-in wires of the lamp electrodes as the lamp terminals, thus eliminating the need for externally protruding contact pins. The leadin wires are recessed with a terminal projection to protect them from accidental contact. These fluorescent lamps are supported at each end by a part of a lamp-holder assembly and means are provided for contacting the lead-in wires to complete an operative electrical circuit.

In the past, various types of compressible lamp holders have been employed each of which include a housing provided with one or more springs located therein which press a movable contact holding element into engagement with the terminal lead-in wires of the lamp. However, because the springs are mounted internally of the body of the compressible lamp holder, they are generally of such small size as to be too Weak to assure proper and complete contact. Thus faulty or incomplete operation of the fluorescent lamp due to incomplete circuits being maintained often results, because of arcing the lead-in wires are often burnt out or otherwise destroyed, thus reducing the operating life of the fluorescent lamp.

it is one of the concepts of the present invention to employ a spring of much greater strength than that heretofore utilized which will enable a better contact to be maintained between the lamp holder assembly and the fluorescent lamp terminals.

The compressible lamp holders of the aforementioned conventional type usually employ a pair of coil springs for carrying the current. Because of the shape of these lamp holders there is not sufficient space within each lamp holder to increase the strength of these springs by increasing their diameter without causing the springs to engage each other and thus short out. Since the lack of contact pressure will cause arcing, burning out of the lamp holder, and other casualties, and because the small size lead-in wires provided in the terminal projections of the lamp need good contact engagement, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved contact arrangement backed by a relatively strong spring so as to insure against arcing, burning out of the lamp holder and the lamp, and other failures.

In the past lamp holders have been attached to the lamp back housing or plate by means of screws or other separable fasteners and these screws are usually mounted from the rear. Thus, once the lamp holder has been positioned in place, the lamp socket cannot be generally attached from the front nor can it be removed from the front, but the entire fixture must be taken apart to remove the end plate, so that access may be had to the screw or other mounting means. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent lamp holder in which there is eliminated all mounting screws, retainer rings, and which employs a novel arrangement of spring clips for holding the lamp holder in place.

ihllhfihh Patented Dec. 31, 1963 "ice A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a lamp holder having means for facilitating welding or soldering the lead-in wires to the contact member of the lamp holder.

An additional feature of the invention is that the lamp holder body is integrally molded from a single piece of material and does not require any separate mounting means for the relatively strong coil springs which are dis posed thereabout.

Still further objects, features and advantages of the invention resides in the provision of a lamp holder that is simple in construction, easy to install, attractive in appearance, relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is highly efiicient in use.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this fluorescent lamp holder, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with parts thereof being shown in section illustrating the lamp holder with a fluorescent lamp mounted therein:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lamp holder with parts being shown in section illustrating the lamp holder with a fluorescent lamp being installed therein and with the compressible portion of the lamp holder in telescoped condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detailed view of one portion of the lamp holder taken along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp holder assembly comprising the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the stationary lamp holder; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 in FIG. 6.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings where like reference numerals designate similar parts the reference numeral it) generally designates a gaseous discharge lamp of the high output, rapid-start type which does not require starters. This lamp 16 does not have projecting contact pins, but instead has recessed terminal wires of generally-known type, being illustrated for example in the aforementioned Pistey Patent No. 2,742,621 and Lemmers Patent No. 2,716,739.

Th lamp 153 includes an elongated glass tube 12 provided with an internal phosphor coating and containing mercury vapor. The glass tube 12 has hollow heads or shells l4 and 16 at the ends thereof, each of which heads carries projecting male terminal parts 18 and 263 which are hollow and in each of which are recessed a pair of metal wire terminals 22, 24, such as illustrated in H6. 3. The pairs of wire terminals 22, 24 extend into the interior of the lamp tube 12 and are connected to the respective lamp electrodes therein (not shown). The lamp It) is intended to be mounted in a lamp holder assembly between a pair of lampholder sockets which serve to connect the pairs of terminal wires within an electrical energizing circuit.

The lamp holder assembly of the present invention includes a compressible lamp holder 30 and a stationary lamp holder 4% adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of a fixture to hold a lamp 10 therebetween. The lamp holder 31) and 40 may be provided with respective L- shaped mounting brackets 26 and 28 adapted to be secured to a fixture, or they may be mounted directly in the end walls of the fixture. The mounting brackets 26 and 28 have respective mounting openings 32 and 34 being generally circular in shape but having respective fiat surfaces 36 and 38 atone side thereof to prevent rotation of the mounted lamp holders therein.

The stationary lamp holder 41} includes an integrallymolded body made of electrically-insulating material such as a urea plastic and formed with a shank base portion 44 and a head portion 46. The head portion 46 is of enlarged circular shape and has flat front and rear surfaces 46a and 46b. The flat rear surface 46b defines a shoulder at the junction of the head portion '46 and base portion 44.

The base portion 44 is of the same general configuration as the mounting opening 34 and the base portion is sized to closely fit through said opening so that the stationary lamp holder 41) is non-rotatably mounted in the bracket 28 or like fixture element. The base portion 44 is provided with a pair of grooves 50 and 52 therein which are oppositely disposed with respect to each other. The head portion 46 has recesses 54 and 56 formed therein which recesses communicate with the grooves 50 and 52.

Spring clips 58 and 611' are provided and these spring clips are sized to fit securely in the communicating grooves 50 and 52 and recesses 54 and 56. The spring clips 58 and 61 have flange portions 62 and 64- which seat in recesses 54 and 56. The flange portions have apertures 66 and 68 therein which align with suitable apertures 70, 71 in the head portion 46. The clips 58 and are riveted in place by means of rivets which extend through the aligned apertures 66, 68, and 70, 71. Of course, other suitable means may be provided for holding the spring clips 58 and 60 to the body of the stationary lamp holder 40. The clips 58 and 60 further include arms 72 and 74 as well as bowed legs 76 and 78 integrally formed with the arms 72 and 74. The legs 76 and 78 are generally bent back along the arms 72 and 74 but bow outwardly slightly and there terminate in inwardly extending free ends 80 and 82. The legs 76 and 78 are designed to flex inwardly upon application of force so that where the base portion 44 is inserted into mounting opening 34 the legs 76 and 78 will engage the flat surface 38 and the surface bounding the mounting opening 34 opposite the flat surface 38. The legs 76 and 78 will yield sufficiently to permit the base portion 4-4 to be inserted sufliciently that the free ends 80 and 82 will engage the bracket 28 so that the free ends will urge the flat rear surface 46b against the bracket 28, as shown in FIG. 1.

A recess 84, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, is formed in the body of the stationary lamp holder 40. The recess 84 is adapted to receive therein the terminal part 20. A cavity 86 is formed in the base portion 44 and together with recess 84 define a web 88 within the stationary lamp holder 40. The recess 84 is generally of oval shape. Integral with the web 88 is a spacer block 90. At the inner end of the base portion 44 the recess is eniarged to form a circular opening 92. Walls 94 and 96 define the depth of the circular opening 92. The spacer block 91 extends forwardly to terminate flush with the walls 94 and 96.

The web 88 is provided with a pair of holes 8 and 100 therethrough. The web also has depressions 102 and 104- therein which are sized to form out of said web 88 in conjunction with said holes 98 and 100 a pair of holding portions 106 and 168.

A pair of electrical contact members 110 and 112 in strip form are disposed within the stationary lamp holder 48. The outer ends 114 and 116 are bent over the holding portions 106 and 10 8 to :fasten the contact members 110 and 112 in their proper position outer ends .114- and 116 of the contact members 110 and 112 are apertured at 118 and 120 to provide a bend line for the accurate crimping of said ends around the holding portions 106, 108, as shown in FIG. 7. The contact members 110 and 1 12 have central portions 126 and .128 which lie against the web 88 and inner bowed portions 130 and 132 which terminate as inwardly turned ends 135 and 137 engageable with said spacer block 90.

The bowed inner portions 130' and 132 provide a resilient strip surface ensuring good electrical contact with the wire terminals 22, 24 of the terminal part 20 which is inserted in the recess 84.

The compressible lamp holder 30* includes an integrally molded body portion made of electrically-insulating material such as a urea plastic and formed with a shank or base portion 134 and a head portion 136. The head portion 136 is of enlarged circular shape and has flat front and rear surfaces 136a and 136b, The flat rear surface 13% defines a shoulder at the junction of the head portion .136 and the base portion 134.

The shank or base portion 134 is of the same general configuration as the mounting opening 32 and the base portion 134 is sized to closely fit through opening 32 so that the compressible lamp holder 30 is non-rotatably mounted in the bracket 26 or like fixture element. The base portion 134 is provided with a pair of grooves 148 and 142 therein which are oppositely disposed with respect to each other. The head portion 136 has recesses 144 and 146 formed therein in communication with the grooves 148 and 142.

Flat spring clips 148 and 150 are provided and these spring clips are sized to fit securely in the communicating grooves and 142 and recess 144 and 146. The spring clips 148 and have flange portions 152 and 154 which seat in recesses .144- and 146. The flange portions have apertures 156 and .158 therein which align with suit-able apertures 16% and 162 in the head portion 136. The spring clips 148 and 150 are fastened in place by means of rivets 164- and 166 which extend through the aligned apertures 156, i158 and 166, 162.

The spring clips 148 and 150 further include arms 168 and 171) which lie in grooves 140 and 142 and normally diverge outwardly at their free ends so that the outer portions of said arms 168 and are spaced from the bottoms of the grooves 140 and 142. The arms 168 and 170 have outwardly extending portions 172 and 174 to which angularly inwardly extending portions 176 and 173 are integrally attached. The outwardly extending portions 172 and 174 are adapted to engage the bracket 26.

Disposed about the base portion 134 is a helical coil spring 188 of comparatively great strength. The strength of the spring 180 far exceeds that of the springs used internally in conventional compressible lamp holders and the spring 180 is of conical shape having a relatively large end 182 engageable with the bracket 26 and a relatively small end 184 engaging the shoulder 136b. The spring 180 urges the body of the compressible lamp holder 30 inwardly of the bracket 26 and holds the outwardly extending portions 172 and 174 against the bracket 26.

A recess 186, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, is formed in the body of the compressible lamp holder 30. The recess 186 is adapted to receive therein the terminal part 18. A cavity 188 is formed in the base portion 134 and together with the recess 186 define a web 1% within the compressible lamp holder 30. The recess 186 is generally of an oval shape and at the inner end of the base portion 134, the recess 186 is enlarged to form a circular opening 192. Walls 194 and 196 define the depth of the circular opening 192. A spacer block 198 is integrally formed with the web and extends forwardly therefrom to terminate flush with the walls 194 and 196.

The Web 190 is provided with a pair of holes 260 and 292 therethrough. The web 190 also has depressions 204 and 286 therein which are sized to form out of said web 190 in conjunction with said holes 280 and 262 a pair of holding portions 2118 and 210.

A pair of electrical contact members 212 and 214 of identical configuration to the contact members 116 and 112 are disposed within the compressible lamp holder 38. The outer ends 216 and 218 are apertured at 220 and 222 to provide a bend line for said contact members. The

outer ends 216 and 218 are bent over the holding portions 2% and 210 to fasten the contact members 212 and 214 in their proper position. The contact members 212 and 214 have central portions 228 and 23% which lie against the web 190.. The contact members 212 and 214 further include inner bowed portions 232 and 234 which terminate as inwardly turned ends 134 and 13d engageable with the spacer block 198.

The inner bowed portions 232 and 234 provide a resilient strip surface insuring good electrical contact with the wire terminals 22, 24 of the terminal part 18 which is inserted in recess 13 The lamp holder assembly is designed to be easily assembled. The clips 58 and 6t and 143, 156 are first installed in position by bending over the outer end portions of the clips and then the clips are riveted in position. Then, the coil spring 130 is disposed about the base portion 134 and the non-circular base portion 134 is aligned with the opening 32. and pressed therethrough against the force of the spring 189 with the angularly inwardly extending portions 176 and 178 being depressed by cam action so as to move toward each other sufiiciently to clear the sides of opening 32 and permit the insertion of the base portion 134 through the opening 32. Once the spring end portions 176 and 178 have passed the opening 32, the resilience of the arms 168 and 170 causes the ends of the arms to again diverge until the outwardly extending portions 172 and 174 overlap the rear surface of bracket 26 adjacent the opening 32. When the body is released after insertion of the base portion 134- the spring 18:) will bear against the shoulder 136b forcing the head portion 136 away from the bracket 26 and the outwardly extending portions 172 and 174 of the clips into engagement with the bracket 26.

After assembling the contact members 119, 112 and the clips 53, 64) of the stationary lamp holder 40 the base portion 44 is inserted in the opening 34 and pressed inwardly until the shoulder 46b engages the bracket 28. The shoulder 46b will be retained in contact with the bracket 28 by action of the clips 58 and 6d.

The lamp it) can be easily installed in the lamp holder assembly. The terminal projection 18 of the lamp 10 is positioned in the recess 89 of the compressible lamp holder 30 which is pressed inwardly to the position as is shown in FIG. 2 against the force of the spring 18% allowing the projection Zil to be aligned with the recess 84. Then, the fluorescent lamp bulb 19 is released and the spring 180 which is very strong will press the projection 20 into the recess making an especially firm engagement and good electrical contact between the lead-in wires 22 and 24 of the projection 13 and the strip contacts 11th and 112.

Further, the spring 180 will force the compressible lamp holder 34 onto the projection 18 so that the lead-in wires 22, 24 of the projection 18 will firmly engage the strip contacts 148 and 159 in good electrical contact therewith. The bowed portions 139, 132 and 232, 234 resiliently engage the lead-in wires with the inturned portions 134, 136 and 235, 238 engaging the spacer blocks 94 and 198 respectively to maintain the bowed position of portions 130, 132 and 232, 234.

In order to remove the lamp 12 from the lamp holder assembly, the lamp 12 is pushed in the direction of the compressible lamp holder causing the spring 130 to be compressed. As soon as the terminal projection 29 clears the recess 84 in the stationary lamp holder 49, the lamp 12 may be tilted with respect to the lamp holder assembly and the projection 18 can then be pulled out of recess 186 of the compressible lamp holder 30.

When it is desired to remove the compressible lamp holder 30 from the bracket 26 or the other lamp fixture in which it is installed, this can be accomplished from either side of the bracket. The manner in which the compressible lamp holder 3% is removed depends on the accessibility of the sides of the bracket 26. If the outer side of the bracket 26 is accessible, the inwardly extending portions 176, 178 of the clips 148, 159 can be pressed towards each other allowing spring 18% which is under compression to draw the base portion 134- through the opening 32 with the clips 148, 1% clearing the opening. However, if the outer side of the bracket 26 is blocked so as to be inaccessible, it is merely necessary to insert a tool such as a screwdriver into one of grooves 141 142 and the respective spring arm 168, 17% is pressed against the bottom of said groove to urge the outwardly extending portion 172, 17 i toward the other clip so as to permit both clips 148, 151) to pass through opening 32.

The stationary lamp holder 45) is removed from either side of the bracket 28 in a like manner. The clips 58 and 69 can be easily pressed together manually after which the stationary lamp holder can be pushed through opening 34. The stationary lamp holder 40 is removed from the other side of bracket 28 using a tool such as a screwdriver. The tool blade is inserted along one of the grooves 50, 52 and the respective free end 80, (32 is pressed inwardly while the head piece 46 is pulled out freeing the stationary lamp holder 4% from the bracket 28.

The lamp holder assembly can be rendered waterproof by use of a neoprene or rubber boot which is back cemented over the openings 32, 34. This will render the compressible lamp holder and stationary lamp holder to be removable only from the inner sides of the respective brackets.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

l. A fluorescent lampholder comprising a plate having a non-circular opening therein, a body having a front cylindrical portion and a shank integrally formed with said cylindrical portion, said shank having a non-circular cross section closely conforming in contour with said non-circular opening and of lesser dimensions than said cylindrical portion forming a shoulder, said cylindrical portion having a recess therein, said shank having a cavity therein, a web separating said recess and said cavity, said recess forming a socket for receiving the terminal projection of a fluorescent lamp, said body having a spacer block integral with said web and extending into said socket, a pair of fiat metal strip contact members secured to and extending through said web and being disposed on opposite sides of said web with one end of said contact members secured to the rear surface of said web, said shank having a pair of longitudinal grooves therein, and a clip disposed in each of said grooves, each clip comprising an elongated resilient arm secured at its front end to said body and having at its rear end an outwardly projecting shoulder normal to the axis of said arm and terminating in a rearwardly and inwardly inclined surface, said resilient arms extending longitudinally through the respective grooves and being normally spaced from the bottom walls of said grooves with said shoulders located in a retaining position outwardly of said grooves, said shoulders being movable to a release position within said grooves to permit said shank to be inserted into and withdrawn from said non-circular opening, said inclined surfaces being positioned to engage the edge of said plate adjacent said opening and depress said shoulders into said grooves to said release position when said shank is inserted into said opening, said resilient arms moving said shoulders outwardly of said groove to said retaining position and into engagement with the rear surface of said plate after said shoulders have passed through said opening, with the forward portions of said resilient arms accessible from the front of said plate for manual depression inwardly of said slots, whereby to move said shoulders to said release position, and a coil spring disposed about said shank and engaging said front cylindrical portion and said plate for urging said front portion away from said plate with said clip shoulders engaging the rear surface of said plate.

2. A fluorescent lampholder assembly comprising plate means having spaced apart aligned openings therein, a stationary lampholder immovably mounted in one of said openings and a movable lampholder slidably mounted in the other opening for movement toward and away from said stationary lampholder for receiving and holding a lamp between said lampholders, said movable lampholder comprising a body having an enlarged front portion and a shank provided with a pair of grooves therein, a clip disposed in each of said grooves, each clip having a resilient arm secured at one end to said lampholder body and extending longitudinally through a respective groove each of said resilient arms having a laterally-extending shoulder perpendicular to the axis of said arm and normally projecting outwardly of said groove, said shoulders being depressible into said grooves to permit said shank and said clips to be inserted into said other plate opening, said shank being slidable in said plate opening, and spring means disposed about said shank and engaging said engaging said enlarged front portion and said plate means for urging said enlarged front portion away from said plate means with said clip shoulders engaging said plate means, said shoulders being located at the rear end portions of said resilient arms whereby said shank is permitted sliding movement within its respective plate opening between the limits defined by the enlarged front portion and said clip shoulders, the forward portions of said resilient arms being accessible from the front of said plate means to permit manual depression of said resilient arms and said shoulders within said grooves for removal of said movable lampholder shank from its respective plate opening.

3. A fluorescent lampholder comprising a plate having an opening therein, a body having an enlarged forward portion and a shank having a pair of longitudinal grooves therein, each groove extending from said enlarged forward portion to the rear of said shank, a clip for each of said grooves, each clip having an elongated resilient arm, means rigidly mounting one end of said arm on said body adjacent the forward end of the respective groove with the arm extending longitudinally through said groove and spaced above the bottom wall thereof, said resilient arms terminating at their rear ends in laterally-projecting retaining portions each having a plate-engaging surface normal to the axis of said arm, said retaining portions extending outwardly of said grooves for engagement with said plate and adapted to be depressed into said grooves, said shank slidably closely fitting in said opening with the re taining portions of said clips adapted to pass through said opening when depressed, and a coil spring disposed about said shank, said spring engaging said enlarged portion and said plate and urging said enlarged portion of said body away from said plate with the plate-engaging surface of said clips engaging the rear surface of said plate and with said clip arms accessible from the front of said plate for manual depression into said grooves, the enlarged forward portion of said body having a recess therein forming a socket for receiving the terminal projection of a fluorescent lamp.

4. A fluorescent lampholder comprising a plate having an opening therein, a body having an enlarged forward portion and a shank having a pair of longitudinal grooves therein, each groove extending from said enlarged forward portion to the rear of said shank, a clip for each of said grooves, each clip having an elongated resilient arm, means rigidly mounting one end of said arm on said body adjacent the forward end of the respective groove with the arm extending longitudinally through said groove and spaced above the bottom wall thereof, said resilient arms terminating at their rear ends in laterally-projecting retaining portions each having a plate-engaging surface normal to the axis of said arm, said retaining portions extending outwardly of said grooves for engagement with said plate and adapted to be depressed into said grooves, said shank slidably closely fitting in said opening with the retaining portions of said clips adapted to pass through said opening when depressed, and a coil spring disposed about said shank, said spring engaging said enlarged portion and said plate and urging said enlarged portion of said body away from said plate with the plate-engaging surface of said clips engaging the rear surface of said plate and with said clip arms accessible from the front of said plate for manual depression into said grooves, the enlarged forward portion of said body having a recess therein forming a socket for receiving the terminal projection of a fluorescent lamp, and a pair of contact members secured to said body and disposed in said recess, said body having a spacer block integrally formed therewith, said spacer block extending into said recess between said contact members.

5. A fluorescent lampholder comprising a plate having an opening therein, a body having an enlarged forward portion and a shank having a pair of longitudinal grooves therein, each groove extending from said enlarged forward portion to the rear of said shank, a clip for each of said grooves, each clip having an elongated resilient arm, means rigidly mounting one end of said arm on said body adjacent the forward end of the respective groove with the arm extending longitudinally through said groove and spaced above the bottom wall thereof, said resilient arms terminating at their rear ends in laterally-projecting retaining portions each having a plate-engaging surface normal to the axis of said arm, said retaining portions extending outwardly of said grooves for engagement with said plate and adapted to be depressed into said grooves, said shank slidably closely fitting in said opening with the retaining portions of said clips adapted to pass through said opening when depressed, and a coil spring disposed about said shank, said spring engaging said enlarged portion and said plate and urging said enlarged portion of said body away from said plate with the plate-engaging surface of said clips engaging the rear surface of said plate and with said clip arms accessible from the front of said plate for manual depression into said grooves, the enlarged forward portion of said body having a recess therein forming a socket for receiving the terminal projection of a fluorescent lamp, and a pair of contact members secured to said body and disposed in said recess, said body having a spacer block integrally formed therewith, said spacer block extending into said recess between said contact members, said shank having a cavity therein opposite said recess defining a web in said body between said recess and said cavity, said contact members extending through said web and into said cavity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES P TENTS 1,969,544 Benander Aug. 7, 1934 2,206,913 Miller July 9, 1940 2,448,359 Davison Aug. 31, 1948 2,626,976 Howenstine Jan. 27, 1953 2,715,216 Howenstine Aug. 9, 1955 2,716,739 Lemmers Aug. 30, 1955 2,742,620 Pistey Apr. 17, 1956 2,842,281 Chisolm July 8, 1958 2,977,563 Lennox Mar. 28, 1961 3,049,688 Sinopoli Aug. 14, 1962 FOREEGN PATENTS 667,810 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1952 

3. A FLUORESCENT LAMPHOLDER COMPRISING A PLATE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A BODY HAVING AN ENLARGED FORWARD PORTION AND A SHANK HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL GROOVES THEREIN, EACH GROOVE EXTENDING FROM SAID ENLARGED FORWARD PORTION TO THE REAR OF SAID SHANK, A CLIP FOR EACH OF SAID GROOVES, EACH CLIP HAVING AN ELONGATED RESILIENT ARM, MEANS RIGIDLY MOUNTING ONE END OF SAID ARM ON SAID BODY ADJACENT THE FORWARD END OF THE RESPECTIVE GROOVE WITH THE ARM EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID GROOVE AND SPACED ABOVE THE BOTTOM WALL THEREOF, SAID RESILIENT ARMS TERMINATING AT THEIR REAR ENDS IN LATERALLY-PROJECTING RETAINING PORTIONS EACH HAVING A PLATE-ENGAGING SURFACE NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID ARM, SAID RETAINING PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID GROOVES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PLATE AND ADAPTED TO BE DEPRESSED INTO SAID GROOVES, SAID SHANK SLIDABLY CLOSELY FITTING IN SAID OPENING WITH THE RETAINING PORTIONS OF SAID CLIPS ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID OPENING WHEN DEPRESSED, AND A COIL SPRING DISPOSED ABOUT SAID SHANK, SAID SPRING ENGAGING SAID ENLARGED PORTION AND SAID PLATE AND URGING SAID ENLARGED PORTION OF SAID BODY AWAY FROM SAID PLATE WITH THE PLATE-ENGAGING SURFACE OF SAID CLIPS ENGAGING THE REAR SURFACE OF SAID PLATE AND WITH SAID CLIP ARMS ACCESSIBLE FROM THE FRONT OF SAID PLATE FOR MANUAL DEPRESSION INTO SAID GROOVES, THE ENLARGED FORWARD PORTION OF SAID BODY HAVING A RECESS THEREIN FORMING A SOCKET FOR RECEIVING THE TERMINAL PROJECTION OF A FLUORESCENT LAMP. 